Thanks for posting that song. It is beautiful. The speaker sounds like Greta Thunberg, the Swedish child who spoke before the U.N. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWsM9-_zrKo
Yes, the speaker is Greta. Such a beautiful soul.
This is a lovely story. I hope you don't need a Washington Post subscription to access it:
Here is a story about an 8-year old boy helping another little boy with autism. Stories like that gives me hope for the future.
This one is for a Mr. Mike Pense, of Doonbeg ,Ireland? https://youtu.be/7TuSrLPMvpk
Hopefully you can access this without a Washington Post subscription. It is a sweet presentation by a retired National Geographic photographer, Vincent Musi. He became a dog photographer and began creating personalities and writing bios on the lovable animals he photographed. He also has a big following on Instagram.
Oompah Loompah song. No explanation necessary, i'm sure https://youtu.be/rcWPqxCweuU
I daily get so much joy and relief by walking among trees. Today I noticed this poem by Mary Oliver that hits the mark of how restorative, no uplifting, trees can be. They tell me what is true. They soothe me. They help me get perspective in this world.
WHEN I AM AMONG TREES by Mary Oliver
When I am among the trees,
especially the willows and the honey locust,
equally the beech, the oaks, and the pines,
they give off such hints of gladness.
I would almost say that they save me, and daily.
I am so distant from the hope of myself,
in which I have goodness, and discernment,
and never hurry through the world
but walk slowly, and bow often.
Around me the trees stir in their leaves
and call out, “Stay awhile.”
The light flows from their branches.
And they call again, “It’s simple,”
they say, “and you, too, have come
into the world to do this, to go easy,
to be filled with light, and to shine.”
Just a share:
I had the pleasure of attending San Diego's annual Trolley Dances yesterday. It's an afternoon of walking and trolley riding around the city to different outdoor venues, where there is modern dance that is choreographed specific to each site. The pieces were wonderful, and it was a lovely afternoon spent with a friend, supporting local artists and also our public transit system.
I know many other cities have similar events (ours was inspired by one in Bern Switzerland, 20 years ago). It was a balm to my soul, I do hope some of you can find such an opportunity where you live.
Peace.
Wise words from Dan Rather, very comforting:
"This is unprecedented. This is dangerous. But this is also necessary. We cannot panic in the face of what we confront, or get overwhelmed by details. We must breathe deep, take stock, see all for what it is, methodically and fairly uncover right from wrong, truth from fiction, and ultimately we must persevere, for the sake of our nation."
Mercy Now
Mary Gauthier
My father could use a little mercy now
The fruits of his labor
Fall and rot slowly on the ground
His work is almost over
It won’t be long and he won’t be around
I love my father, and he could use some mercy now
My brother could use a little mercy now
He’s a stranger to freedom
He’s shackled to his fears and doubts
The pain that he lives in is
Almost more than living will allow
I love my brother, and he could use some mercy now
My Church and my Country could use a little mercy now
As they sink into a poisoned pit
That’s going to take forever to climb out
They carry the weight of the faithful
Who follow ‘em down
I love my Church and Country and they could use some mercy now
Every living thing could use a little mercy now
Only the hand of grace can end the race
Towards another mushroom cloud
People in power, well
They’ll do anything to keep their crown
I love life, and life itself could use some mercy now
Yea, we all could use a little mercy now
I know we don’t deserve it
But we need it anyhow
We hang in the balance
Dangle ‘tween hell and hallowed ground
Every single one of us could use some mercy now
Every single one of us could use some mercy now
Every single one of us could use some mercy now
This song came on the radio this morning, as i was getting ready to take my Pops to the hospital. Good thing we weren't already on the road! Mary Gauthier is also featured on the new documentary "Invisible: Gay Women in Southern Music". But, as she says, "There is not a closet big enough in the world, to hold all this back!"
The world has lost the beautiful Diahann Carroll.
Here is a clip of her movie "Claudine", set to a Curtis Mayfield song performed by Gladys Knight and the Pips: "The Makings of You"
That was really sweet and it touched my heart. I connected suddenly to a million memories of people and days gone by.
I've learned that age and aging makes us all do that and our eyes well up with tears over the smallest of things
The loss of one more icon that many of younger generations won't even recognize or ever have heard the names of people that are part of ours is one of them.
I already know things and remember people, places, and things that not one other single person in my whole life that's still alive knows.
The making of each of us is part of all of those things. Thats what this short clip connected in me. That and Diane Carroll and Gladys Knight and movies and videos and most of all music.
You give us all that unk-p. Thank you.
hey, i meant to post this a coupla weeks ago. Ding Dong the Witch is Dead. This is not the movie version. This is the one that was a hit for a minute, in 1967. The one with the drums and piper, that sounds like it is from the 1st american revolution, https://youtu.be/lanHKWXRe_4
This is fun -- an interview of Randy Rainbow and his creative process. He's keeping me sane!
I love that guy. I'd like him to do more videos. But it's a lot of work.
I'm tired of writing and reading about politics, so I'm posting about uplifting music instead.
During our 11/11 Read the Future meditation, when I thought about this current December, I heard the lyrics to the song "Just Can't Last" by Natalie Merchant. As most of you probably know, Jeanne has been seeing this winter as the darkest period in our collective downward spiral, so it's telling that I heard that song. Natalie Merchant is a bonafide light worker, and 'Just Can't Last" epitomizes her compassion for people who are struggling through dark times.
Considering my age, I developed quite the retro love for the 10,000 Maniacs and Merchant's solo work when I was in high school (I like to confuse people my age when I tell them my first celebrity crush was on Natalie Merchant). It turns out her music found me just in time, because soon after that I started struggling through my succession of health crises, and it seemed like her lyrics were speaking directly to me. Now whenever I listen to her music, I'm always reminded of this community. Her song "Wonder" especially captures the spirits of everyone who has found a home here on this site:
I simply loved that Coyote! Wonder by Natalie Merchant is one of my fav's!
I have a song that is one of my all time favorite inspirational songs. I hope everyone here enjoys it as much as I do too. It gives me chills and happy feelings whenever I hear it. I hope you Dance by Lee Ann Womack. Here's the link with the music and the lyrics: